The Dictionary Gave Me Dalai Lama

It prompted me to think about the nature of religion.

I use the dictionary every day as a writing prompt. It is a most exacting instructor in the creative. Often I know little to nothing about the “next word” in my big, red book — and the rules of the game don’t allow for research. Just the expression of first thoughts and feelings.

The exercise has caused me to dispel many pretentions. (That can’t be a bad thing, right?) If you read my essay below, I think you’ll see what I mean.

Dalai Lama: (n) formerly the ruler and chief monk of Tibet

Religion is like taking a machine gun to battle house flies — the premise being, the more bullets you have to destroy the varmints, the greater your chance for success.

The problem? You unfortunately destroy everything in sight with your machine gun, just to dispel some annoying fly-bys.

As a human being, I am fully aware of the qualities I appreciate in other human beings — and those I do not favor.

For instance:

What I’ve just shared with you is a summary of the true value found in religion. Everything else is legalism, prejudice, ritual, outlandish oversight, and rules and regulation — frequently about issues that have not been pertinent since the fifteenth century.

I don’t doubt that.

If you climb into my van, I’ll drive you down the street to the nursing home, where we will walk through holy ground and meet many such men and women.

These are the traveling souls who have worn human skin and discovered much foolishness and settled on simple things, like a small squirt of whipped cream on top of their tapioca pudding.

The Dalai Lama may be just fine. I don’t disfavor him because he is not of my faith.

But I do not believe that his mere lineage from some dude grants him the license to perpetuate a holy genetic order.

What is my conclusion?

I think we should listen to the Dalai Lama just as intensely and feverishly as we do the Dolly Parton.

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